185br adding shore power question-gctid366148

[Guest]

Hi all

I am new to forum, bayliners and boats, I am taking delivery of my new 185br on Wednesday and have a question regarding shore power.

I will be adding a 2nd battery and a blue water system so that I can keep the original starting battery just for starting, I am also adding a 2nd fully automatic bilge pump and a waterproof twin output charger as I am at least for the first year be keeping it in the water.

I there for need to add shore power to the boat but not sure how to go about it or at least the best way!

Can I just replace plug on charger to a shore power plug and just run lead from shore straight to charger? Or should I be fitting an Rcd type junction box?

Should I wire mains earth to battery negative?

If I put some for of junction box or plug I assume I should not have this in the engine bay?

Will this affect my anodes etc.

Any advice greatly appreciated as want to leave it with peace of mind it is safe and reliable.

Thanks guys.

Pico

Ps. In the UK

[2850Bounty]

picotrain wrote:
I will be adding a 2nd battery and a blue water system so that I can keep the original starting battery just for starting,

I am also adding a 2nd fully automatic bilge pump and a waterproof twin output charger as I am at least for the first year be keeping it in the water.

I there for need to add shore power to the boat but not sure how to go about it or at least the best way!

Pico, what is a blue water system that relates to keeping the original starting battery?

Do you mean Blueseas system???

We don't often see S/P on a small boat like this.

S/P is typically intended to supply ammenities such as 12v/120vac refrigerators, 120 vac lighting, O/B Charging systems, etc.

IMO, to this correctly, you'll want to install 120 vac breaker panel that will be fed by the S/P inlet.

This will offer a main breaker, possibly two or three branch circuit breakers, a volt meter, and typically a Reverse Polarity indicator light.



Do you have a place for one, and do you really need S/P for anything other than the battery charger????

If this is to be for a battery charger only, I think that you can do this without adding an actual S/P system.

.

[Guest]

Hi

Sorry, I meant blue sea!!

And in answer to your question, no I do not want to install a full shore power system I am purely looking for the best and safest means of connecting an installed 240v battery charger to the shore power on pontoon.

Some people say just run lead under covers! and don't bother fitting a connector plug!

Some say you should never do this and any mains lead running on to boat should be bonded!

Also being a sealed water proof charger is it safe to mount in engine compartment as that's we're the batteries are?

Just looking for input on the best and safest way so I can leave boat for several weeks safe in the knowledge that it's not going to catch fire, cause excessive anode issues and maintained battery's so if a bilge issue is present the pumps won't just flatten battery etc.

Sorry if stupid question but this is are first ever boat and don't want to make a school boy error.

Kind regards

Pico

[2850Bounty]

I'd suggest contacting a local Marine Electrician, and ask what he'd recommend.

You will definitely want some form of circuit protection and possibly ground fault protection.

.

[Guest]

Hi all

Anyone else have an ideas or suggestions on this one?

I know I could ask a marine electrician but I don't personnaly know one and no doubt they will try and sell me hardware or labour that I don't need. That's why I though I would post question here as there are so many people in the know!!!!

Ps first ever boat being delivered on wed, getting excited now.

[Guest]

I was in a similar situation, with my 18 foot trophy, I didn't need "full shore power" but was thinking about my charger and maybe one outlet, finally I decided that since I keep my boat in my carport it wasn't worth it but I did find these guys... http://www.ezacdc.com/boat-wiring-pr...l-shore-power/ By the way, the thing that pushed me away was the galvanic isolator, it was as much as the rest of the stuff combined....but it would have been nice to plug in a coffee maker or small microwave at the dock for a few minutes in the morning when the boat is somewhere in guest moorage....

[Mocoondo]

I'll be the first, I guess ... This entire conversation is ridiculous. An 18' boat does not need a shore power system.

If you are worried about keeping your batteries charged, then attach a battery charger and run an extension cord into the boat. I have two batteries on my boat and keep a trickle charger wired to each one. When I feel I need a charge, I just plug the chargers into an extension cord and walk away.

If it's a concern of the boat sinking, then buy some more insurance ... or put the boat on a lift.

If a water leak develops that keeps two bilge pumps running constantly to the point of draining two batteries dead, then the bottom line here is that you are going to lose the boat and will be making a call to your insurance company.

I'm all for redundancy, but full on shore power just makes no sense at all. There is no air conditioner, no electronics, no refrigerator to keep cold, no ice maker, no lights, etc. If you really feel the need to power a battery charger, then hang an extension cord into the engine compartment and call it good.

[Guest]

Mocoondo wrote:
I'll be the first, I guess ... This entire conversation is ridiculous. An 18' boat does not need a shore power system.

If you are worried about keeping your batteries charged, then attach a battery charger and run an extension cord into the boat. I have two batteries on my boat and keep a trickle charger wired to each one. When I feel I need a charge, I just plug the chargers into an extension cord and walk away.

If it's a concern of the boat sinking, then buy some more insurance ... or put the boat on a lift.

If a water leak develops that keeps two bilge pumps running constantly to the point of draining two batteries dead, then the bottom line here is that you are going to lose the boat and will be making a call to your insurance company.

I'm all for redundancy, but full on shore power just makes no sense at all. There is no air conditioner, no electronics, no refrigerator to keep cold, no ice maker, no lights, etc. If you really feel the need to power a battery charger, then hang an extension cord into the engine compartment and call it good.

gotta agree with mocoondo....kinda seems silly to hook up a full electrical system to a small boat.....put a charger and an extension cord onto shore power and call it good......

:arr arr

[Guest]

Nice to get some sanity on this question:worth:worth